End of an Odyssey and the Beginning of the End

Well, Thanksgiving went okay. Cooking, turkey, and family recrimination. Really, what more could a person want?

The Final Stretch

As I am committing words to paper (which I do before typing) I find that after nearly 15 years of writing papers I still don't like doing papers, which is odd because I like writing. I used to write a lot when I was in high school. My imagination knew no bounds. Let me give a few examples:

-A love story between a mutant boy and a hot robot girl after the last human dies of boredom centuries earlier. They end up killing each other over the last VHS copy of "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back".

-Fighter pilots stationed on a warship in the far-future fighting in a war that threatens to destroy their entire race discuss the implications of Coke Classic after New Coke 2347 fails miserably and is blamed for recent set backs in the war effort. The twist is that Coke Classic makes humans smarter at the cost of their health.

-A man from the future is accidentally transported back to New York City in the 90s. To avoid disruptions to history he goes to Central Park and waits for rescue while recalling the history that would create his future New York City. He later gets a free hot dog from a friendly vendor trying to make a living and strikes up a conversation. Caught up in the moment, future guy lets slip seven words that should not have been heard. Before he can fix his mistake he is returned to the future to find out he was deliberately sent back to stop a plague from occurring.

Nothing mind blowing but I regret never developing these stories. Now all I do is write for work and class and it just feels more like a chore then anything fun. Luckily I've had some interesting topics to write about.

Which brings me to the paper. My research continues (despite Penn State recalling my books) and I have written a few pages. I always draft before I really create. So far it has been a slow process. Must be the two weeks remaining. I usually do a paper a few days before it's due. For some reason the extra stress makes me write differently. Unfortunately, with work and a diminished amount of free time I cannot take a chance waiting. Plus, I refuse to do an all-nighter. I am not young(er) anymore. And I love my sleep. This puts me in a crappy position because I have all these ideas that I want to write down, but Grey's Anatomy is available online. Or that book I have been waiting to read just became enticing. Or Halo 3 needs some quality time. Or my apartment needs to be reorganized (seriously, the whole place). Procrastination is my mortal enemy. Hit me hard in college and it has not let up since. But I have a team that is counting on me to deliver my part and I just could not look them in the eye if I goofed around. And I want this presentation to be interesting because I think our topic really has some merit. So I continue as I count down the days until Presentation Day.

And now, back to writing.......................................

The Truth........................
..........................................is sometimes you have to get hurt to understand something. Like not putting a knife in a toaster that is plugged in. Or not to bleed in the middle of the ocean. Or shopping at Circuit City. Life Lessons are always the hardest to deal with, but they stay with you forever and remind you not to do stupid crap like that.

Foiled!!!!!

After getting through traffic, journeying through the back streets of PA, and finding some great parking, class gets canceled.

Humph.

Well, at least coming back wasn't so bad.

The Truth.........
........................... is just because you have a driver's license doesn't mean you shouldn't be careful. Just a hunch.

Sway. To and Fro, Sway.

If you got the reference, your my kind of person.

Project Progression

Project PPG is moving forward. Eric is tackling the financial aspect of pro gaming (the motivation), Biju is working on the technology (the presentation), and I am looking at the social implications (the connection). There is still some things to iron out regarding cohesion but I am confident we can pull this off. The more information I gather the more I come to believe that we might be on the cusp of a sub-cultural revolution. Consider the following:

1) Video game consumer average age is between 24-35.
2) The PS2 achieved an installed base of 120 million worldwide in the last 7 years and it is still growing.
3) Branding has fostered a competitive atmosphere between the platforms on the market.
4) Halo 3 can make over $100 million in its first day.
5) Gen X is the last generation to grow up remembering what life was before commercial video game systems existed.

Looked at separately a person might not see what the big deal is or why this is important. Most people look at the big number ($10 billion in hardware and software sales) and leave it at that.

But there is a connection.

Video games are 30 years old if you define the first popular game, Pong, in 1977 (roughly) as the starting point. Kids of those days are entering their late twenties and early thirties. The PlayStation became a brand and sold more consoles in a short amount of time (7 years) than any other console in history (although Gameboy has sold more in 20 years). Halo 3 sold over 1 million copies on the day of its release, without schools being closed or a national holiday to take off work, plus the base copy costs $60 and unless allowances increased since I was young(er) that is not cash a kid carries.

The general conclusion is that the first video game generation is driving the growth of the industry to the point where it is on the cusp of insinuating itself into the very fabric of society. In twenty years a person will be hard pressed to find anybody who hasn't played a video game of some sort.

That is why Project PPG is only scratching the surface. In my humble opinion (**cough**brilliant**cough**).

The Truth....................
...................................... is if you don't want to be publicly humiliated stop posting to Youtube. Dude, she's just not that into you. Deal with it. Preferably with liquor.

Razorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Back from the Battlestar Galactica: Razor advance screening event. First off, no spoilers. Just because I saw it for free because of a video game doesn't mean I should ruin it for the rest of you. Suffice it to say that I enjoyed it. The set pieces were nice and the story moved along. However, it is not the best BSG ever so please adjust your expectations accordingly. But it was fantastic.

Also, I must buy Mass Effect. After watching three ads for it on a movie screen, I find myself compelled to buy it. Now. This is what addiction must feel like. I hope I lose 40 pounds.

The Truth.................
................................... is that marriage is not being taken seriously anymore. What happened to the romance? The committment? The prenup? If they love you they will sign the damn prenup. There is no way in hell I am splitting my GI Joe collection. Do you hear me, NEVER!!!!

Excitement of the Unimportant

Tomorrow I will see Battlestar Galactica: Razor on the big screen. The best part is that the price is the low, low amount of free. Yes, free. Not only do I see this 12 days ahead of the TV premiere but it is free. Did I mention it is free? So how is this voodoo done you may ask. One word: synergy. Apparently Microsoft is promoting their new RPG coming out on 11/20 called Mass Effect. This is supposed to be the next great role-playing game for the Xbox 360 after Oblivion and made by Bioware, best known for Balder's Gate (never played it), Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (loved it), and Jade Empire (still haven't finished it). I find it ironic that I get to see an advance viewing of one of my favorite shows (BSG forever) because of a video game I am interested in playing. This, my people, is proof positive that there is indeed a god (don't ask the specifics, I don't tell).

Unless Razor sucks, which will be proof that the devil exists.

Or not since I did see it for free. Dang, religion is confusing.

The Truth............
............................... is that on Veteran's Day if you have a family member that has served in the United States military, give them a hug for me. Even if they are Republicans.

Persuasive Redux

Not Again.....

Looks like my group will have to make another presentation on blogs, even though we got our butts thoroughly kicked by the Second Life group, although you'll never hear me say it (typing does not count). But I think I have a trick up my sleeve.

Project Progression

The project, henceforth known by its code name Project PPG, is progessing. Comparing pro gaming to sports has allowed me to find a lot of similarities between the two in regards of the creation of fans and initial creations. My new attack angle aims at who would make up the fanbase based on age, gender, and possibly race, although that may not be needed. I am also reading an interesting book titled "Branded" that exposes the marketing methods aimed at teenagers. I have got to say that this read is eye opening, to say the least. I am so not having children.

Prepare for the Plague

I can't wait to get my flu shot. Normal people would look at me strangely, but they are probably already infected. I am getting surrounded by an increasing number of sick people and it is making me (more) paranoid. Now I have the makings of a germaphobe. I don't grab any door handle unless my hand is covered. I keep my distance from people. The only thing I haven't done yet is wear a medical mask, and that's because I don't want to relive the SARS epidemic (scary). Six days, and counting. Pray for me, because I'm too lazy to do it myself.

The Truth......................
........................................ is a democracy needs an active citizenry voting like clockwork. Give up the vote, give up the ghost and don't bitch about it.